A Promise of Immanuel

December 7, 1988 [also December 20, 1987]

Philippians 4:1-9 - Isaiah 41:9-10

Introduction:

We have been speaking this Advent about HOPE! And this passage in Philippians is 'an Immanuel passage!" It begins with the anticipation (3:20) "our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly await for a Savior," and it ends with the statement, "THE GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU!" Maybe that is why it is often read the Sunday just before Christmas.

[[ This passage is also a favorite reading for general devotions. Christians young and old think "they" have discovered it new, all by themselves! It is one of the first "favorite passages" I discovered. My first, hesitating sermon as a teenager after I was given a Local Preacher's License was on the text: "Be careful for nothing!"]]

And at the beginning of this rich chapter is a short paragraph most of us simply hurry through and ignore. After all, what is a personal note, with names that are strange to our ears, doing here in such a wonderful cluster of promises?

Isn't is strange that right in the middle of a "divine passage" comes a plea for personal unity and harmony ? Here is a very personal note along with names— a specific message to actual people! But can it be that the entire passage makes a cohesive whole, and that even this first paragraph "fits" perfectly? I believe it does! For [[ part of the HOPE OF CHRISTMAS is . . .

I. A PLEA FOR AGREEMENT IN THE LORD

If we are waiting for Messiah, and our confidence is that He will come— then it is evident that we need to be at peace with God's people. And Paul mentions three specific members of the congregation at Philippi- (probably four, for 'yoke-fellow' was the common name 'Syzygus')- he says,"Eudia and Syntyche, please agree with one another in the Lord! And Syzygus, you and Clement and the rest—help them! Bring them together in love!"

Why, do you suppose, this very down-to-earth, specific problem is mentioned in Holy Writ right alongside such a sublime hymn to love and joy and peace? Some reasons are :

  1. Real life is that way! Good people can begin to get 'out of sorts.' The good people in Philippi NEEDED the admonition. We deal in absolute truth, and try to live by high principles, according to ideals and holy patterns. And yet real life is never quite exactly 'by the textbook.' And our sermons that seek to touch the stars have to deal with life right down here on earth where we live it!
  2. Love is always a CHOICE. Even for born-again, sanctified Christians! We cannot simply depend on how we "feel," and so Paul could say: "Stop! CHOOSE to love one another! CHOOSE to agree in the Lord!" Christian love always depends on some kind of PREMISE of INTEGRITY. Christian love depends on people of good will, who themselves stop and think how others who disagree MAY just be God's good people, too.

    And so, real LOVE is somehow a willingness to "ascribe" that same level of pure motivation to those who differ from us in the Lord.

  3. Note: THE CALL IS FOR AGREEMENT IN THE LORD! Not for perfect understanding or perfect unity in approach or all driving the same kind of cars . . . Or even voting the same ticket! But it IS a call for KINDNESS! Richard Foster, in the December issue of Christianity Today, says: "Any gospel that so focuses upon a future heaven that it leaves people firmly rooted in harshness, bitterness and despair is a half-gospel."

Do you agree with me that this first paragraph in Philippians 4 belongs there?

[[ But ANOTHER facet of CHRISTMAS HOPE is . . .]]

II. A CALL FOR JOY IN THE LORD

  1. But having 'gotten the attention' of the congregation at Philippi, Paul gets back to his wonderful theme of Christmas JOY! And he really winds up with a "masterpiece" of a passage! It is one of the very richest passages of promise in the Bible. He begins with a call for JOY; he climaxes with the assurance, THE GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU!

    But he starts by saying: REJOICE! It is a deadly thing to say: "Be funny!" It is almost as bad to say, "Enjoy!" Happiness, enjoying— comedy— are things that sort of "happen." But here Paul says: "Rejoice! And do it ON PURPOSE! It is the way that you are supposed to live— and it is NOT out of your reach! Live on the BOUNTY of God's great grace! Live in the sunlight of His LOVE!

    The things that Paul has been writing about— are not just cold, intellectual matters. Knowing Jesus — having the mind that Jesus had — coming to fellowship in the Church— these are the basis for real JOY! Paul says 'Don't stop short of the reality! THAT is real JOY!' DON'T SETTLE FOR 'JUICELESS SALVATION!'

    It isn't enough to live an outwardly holy life. We can't stop with just "being 'good'!" ("I've given up everything for Jesus! Poor me!") We have to keep on to the place where the joy of Jesus breaks into our everyday life and living!

    Paul was writing this letter of love and joy from a Roman prison! And he was saying things like: "MY GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS!" and "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!" From a prison cell!

  2. Paul sees "JOY" as a deliberate CHOICE. WE ARE TO CHOOSE TO LIVE ALL OF LIFE IN CHRIST'S JOY!

[[ Similar to Earl Lee's discovery of 'the cycle of victorious living' in Psalm 37 ]]

Christians are not to be anxious, careful, paralyzed by worry, but INSTEAD, (v6) "IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD, AND THE PEACE OF GOD WILL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS."

[[But there is more. Paul is issuing a challenge to nobility and Christlikeness! STILL ANOTHER SIDE OF 'HOPE' IS GROWING! NOT JUST 'SITTING STILL' AND PASSIVELY WAITING!]]

III. A CHALLENGE TO GROW IN THE LORD

(Challenge to Nobility!)

We have to get used to living in a Palace! We are too easily settled into pursuing goals— goals that are too small for the souls of God's children! God wants us to have a soul that is too big to be at home with the TOYS of MERE materialism or mere EARTHLY power.

The Christian faith is not merely interested in partial victories and in making us "good." It wants us to be Christ- like! We are called to be sons and daughters of the KING! And so we need to be enrolled in the 'finishing school' of God's nobility so that we will be at least a bit 'at home' when we enter into His Presence. We are to BE HOLY so that we may have fellowship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit right here and now as we walk along.

WE ARE TO LIVE BEYOND OUR OWN, LIMITED VISION!

God does not fellowship (in any depth) with people who are pinched and small and little in their love. God wants us to be "large of soul." He wants to walk with people who let Him develop our thinking.

IV. A PROMISE THAT AS WE WAIT GOD WILL 'BE THERE' FOR US!

  1. Here is where the Christmas part comes into this prison epistle! IMMANUEL! "The God of peace will be with you!" Not just when you die—but AS you AGREE IN THE LORD, and AS you REJOICE IN HIS SALVATION, and AS you STRETCH AND GROW IN HIS GRACE, HIS NOBILITY, if you please— you will find that HE IS WITH YOU!

    [ Which brings us also to our passage from Isaiah: (Here is the 'Advent theme: Advent is anticipation of God's promised Messiah, and Advent is preparing our hearts to make Him room. It isn't really Christmas yet! And it never IS Christmas if we don't make proper preparation!) ]

  2. Isaiah underscores TWO wonderful Christmas-time truths for us: (1) the immediacy of Immanuel; and (2) the hope that will not disappoint.
    1. The truth of Immanuel: Jesus really DID come! In the flesh! And He really IS coming again! He is literally going to come and change this world completely. But right NOW— even as we wait for Him— JESUS IS HERE!

      Isaiah's message to his generation was: Messiah will come! Count on it! But "Fear thou not, for I AM with you!"

    2. The hope that will not disappoint! At Christmas time we NEED a hope like that!

One reason— perhaps THE reason that Christmas is sad and trying to so many is — UNREASONABLE EXPECTATIONS! Remembering traditions that never were as bright as we recall them— and hoping that somehow . . .

But Isaiah says: Even while you're WAITING, you'll be strengthened! (40:29-31 "He gives strength to the weary. And to him who lacks might he increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.")

And . . . EVEN WHILE YOU'RE WAITING FOR HIM, HE IS WITH YOU!!

#173 As With Gladness Men of Old